afterthought

noun

af·​ter·​thought ˈaf-tər-ˌthȯt How to pronounce afterthought (audio)
1
: an idea occurring later
made the suggestion as an afterthought
2
: something (such as a part or feature) not thought of originally : something secondary
a seating area added as an afterthought to the office

Examples of afterthought in a Sentence

Then I remembered, almost as an afterthought, to feed the cat. The fact was hidden deep in the report, almost as an afterthought. The lounge was added to the office as an afterthought.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Danville, like most of America, was designed for cars, with pedestrians an afterthought. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 Here, lifestyle isn’t an afterthought; it’s integrated into the very fabric of the community, which was designed to function like a private resort. Gl Homes, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop And, now, there's Dolly's, where the gas seems almost an afterthought — only 16 pumps at the 25,000-square-foot, 18-acre behemoth, which includes a dog park, a theater, restaurant and bar, trucker showers, and lounge. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Visibility must become a strategic priority rather than an operational afterthought. Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for afterthought

Word History

Etymology

after- + thought entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of afterthought was in 1590

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Cite this Entry

“Afterthought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterthought. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

afterthought

noun
af·​ter·​thought -ˌthȯt How to pronounce afterthought (audio)
1
: a later thought about something one has done or said
2
: something not thought of originally

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